Jennifer L. Lacy currently serves as the chief executive officer of PhysioFEEL Coaching LLC, an organization she founded in 2025. Through her company, she has cultivated a unique approach to coaching that integrates morning self-reflection, self-compassion, meditation and exercise to foster mental readiness. Her daily practices include setting priorities, embracing a positive philosophy for success, and nourishing her mind and body throughout the day.
Building on more than 20 years of experience as a kindergarten and elementary school teacher, Ms. Lacy focuses on supporting novice teachers who lack internship experience by coaching them in classroom management and behavior strategies. She champions strengths-based perspectives for students and parents, guided by a unique principle she calls “FUN” — Fascinated, Unapologetically curious and Nourish. This concept is informed by holistic educational practices that honor both Eastern and Western perspectives.
Prior to founding PhysioFEEL Coaching, Ms. Lacy retired from a 22-year tenure as a teacher in June 2025. Throughout her career as an educator, she was recognized for her expertise in growth mindset and cognitive reframing. Ms. Lacy implemented a structured approach that resulted in measurable improvements in students’ reading and mathematics scores. Her commitment to fostering a sense of belonging was evident in her dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives within the classroom.
After two decades in kindergarten instruction, Ms. Lacy transitioned to teaching fifth-grade English language arts and social studies. This move served as a bridge to middle school education and coaching seventh-grade volleyball. Ms. Lacy’s subsequent role as a seventh-grade life science teacher during the COVID-19 pandemic was marked by adaptability and resilience. Embracing emergency remote teaching, she gained valuable insights into the unique characteristics of adolescent learners, helping them to persevere in their education.
In her final two years in the school system, Ms. Lacy returned to an elementary school setting as a resilience coach and behavior specialist. Across her decades of public service, she championed social and emotional learning as critical components of cognitive development.
Beyond her primary vocation, Ms. Lacy has maintained an active presence in the fitness industry for over three decades as a group fitness instructor through the American Council of Exercise. After stepping back from teaching classes during the pandemic, she reentered the field with renewed focus. Ms. Lacy obtained certification as a yoga instructor, with a 30-hour emphasis on children’s yoga. She continues to serve as a group fitness instructor at ACE Fitness while competing for the title of Miss Health and Fitness, with the intention of using any prize money to provide jump ropes and yoga mats for underserved adolescents.
Ms. Lacy’s extensive academic background has been foundational to her achievements, beginning with a bachelor’s degree in education with a minor in early childhood and integrated creative arts from Western Michigan University. Subsequently, she earned a master’s degree in education from Michigan State University. Ms. Lacy is currently pursuing a PhD in mind and body medicine at Saybrook University, where her dissertation explores strength-based mental rehearsal by integrating self-determination theory with chakra system theory — a humanistic approach rooted in her graduate studies. Her research emphasizes basic psychological needs theory and draws upon influential studies in growth mindset and trauma-informed education. Ms. Lacy has further bolstered her credentials through continued professional development. She is certified in mindful applications in healthcare, is national board-certified as a health and wellness coach, and is a 200-hour registered yoga teacher.
Civically engaged throughout her career, Ms. Lacy has served as vice president of the Girls on the Run board in Calhoun County, where she helped launch the Michigan chapter of the nonprofit organization. She organized major community events, including multiple Color Dash 5K fundraisers and Jump Rope for Heart events benefiting the American Heart Association and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Ms. Lacy is also recognized internationally as a public speaker at wellness forums, including the Attachment Trauma Network conference in 2023 and the International Health and Wellness Coaching Conference in 2025. She finds fulfillment in sharing her expertise on growth mindset, reframing techniques and trauma-informed educational practices.
Outside of her professional life, Ms. Lacy is a loving mother to one and a grandmother to one. In her free time, she enjoys playing ice hockey, riding motorcycles, practicing yoga and reading.
Looking ahead, Ms. Lacy envisions herself as an advocate for teachers, actively contributing to organizations to improve workplaces while advancing initiatives to dismantle bias within educational systems. She is committed to achieving financial independence and effecting meaningful change while maintaining a purposeful work-life balance. Ms. Lacy remains dedicated to promoting growth mindset principles through PhysioFEEL Coaching, embracing both scientific rigor and spiritual insight. She plans to continue listening deeply to those around her while striving to leave a legacy measured by what she instills in others rather than personal accomplishments alone.